Technical Remove just top layer of paint???

I am certain I read something about this but can't find the thread, if someone could link me to it that would be cool...
Working on my son's '60 chevy p/u. Someone had painted over the original paint, I am trying to remove that paint in the door jams/firewall area as the original paint underneath appears to be pretty good and it is the color we want.
Can I remove the layer of paint over the original without removing the original?? thanks-

 

if it's rattle can, i think you could. easy off oven cleaner should do the trick. real paint i'm not so sure.

 

If the adhesion is poor on the repaint high pressure water wash may do the trick.

 

Try MEK ( Methyl Ethyl Ketone) you can buy it at most home improvement stores. If you have good factory paint it won't touch it and if you have cheap paint over the top it should wash it right off.

We use it all the time to remove unwanted pin stripes.

 

Find a hidden spot, like in the trunk and experiment. I can never get but one layer at a time using chemical stripper anyway so you might try some. The factory paint is baked on right? so it is pretty tough. You may try some enamel/lacquer thinner also. Tim

 

Beano is correct. HRP

 

I would not try chemical stripper, it will be too strong. I've used laquer thinner, but MEK is probably better.

 

Capt. Lee's paint stripper will strip one layer at a time. The longer you leave it on the more layers it strips. It also neutralizes with water. I used it to strip a cheap black paint job off of a factory blue 69 Camaro. Put it in a spray bottle and mist it on.....wait 30 seconds and wash it off with a water hose.

 

if I wanted to remove a layer of paint from a door jamb and leave the original paint alone I would wet sand it using a block and start with maybe 1000 grit. you never know how deep any chemicals will penetrate until it is too late

 

Once again ****** your advice is spot on...really appreciate you sharing your wisdom and other things, you've played a pretty big role in these kids having an opportunity to work on this old stuff-

 

Not wisdom I have just screwed up a lot.

You by the way are the one vested in those kids. I wish I was going to be around long enough to take account of your investment.

 

I`ve seen someone cut off the top layer with a razor blade. Polished afterwards and it looked nice too. May sound crazy, but it worked great.. at least for him it did. I guess it depends on what kind of paint is on...

 

MEK has been suggested, and the stuff is amazing. Just take some precautions with it, like rubber gloves, and lots of fresh air. The stuff is amazing, but nasty for your health. It is a known carcinogen. Just sayin'.

 

sanding or s****ing a single layer of paint off a door jamb isn't nearly as easy as doing it on a flat outside surface of a car body.